SOUTH DEERFIELD — The Frontier Regional School District School Committee’s recent decision not to move a plaque honoring fallen soldier Gregory Belanger from the old scoreboard to the new scoreboard has sparked unrest, with one organization considering no longer donating to the school and some residents calling for reconsideration.
Community groups in town dedicated the previous baseball scoreboard, which remains near the school parking lot, to Belanger, a former South Deerfield resident who lost his life serving in the U.S. Army Reserve in Iraq in 2003. The scoreboard was installed in 2004.
“When I was approached about having a memorial for Greg way back when, I thought, ‘Wow, what an honor, he’ll never be forgotten and also people will know that war is hell, and there is personal sacrifice,” said Gregory Belanger’s mother, Kathleen Belanger of Deerfield.
According to Frontier Superintendent Darius Modestow, the scoreboard became “non-functional” shortly after its installation due to electrical issues.
Kathleen Belanger asked the School Committee to approve moving the dedication to the new scoreboard at the athletic fields during the June 11 School Committee meeting.
Before the committee’s vote, Modestow reminded members about the district’s memorial policy, which reads, “The School Committee recognizes that the death of a student, member of the staff or prominent community member is deeply felt by the school community. As places designed primarily to support learning, school sites should not serve as the main venue for permanent memorials.”
After discussion, seven School Committee members voted against moving the dedication plaque and two voted in support of moving it.
According to School Committee Chair Melissa Novak, the discussion highlighted a “gap” in school policy for the regulation of moving existing memorials. Moving forward, she said the committee plans to address this at a meeting that allows proper time for public comment and discussion. According to Novak, whether this discussion will take place at the next scheduled committee meeting on Sept. 8 remains uncertain.
“We see that there’s an issue that we need to resolve, and while that issue is being seen as an issue with one memorial, it really is a broader issue of, ‘What do we do with all these memorials that remember wonderful people for various reasons? How do we move forward with all of those and find a space for them and include space for other people without putting the School Committee in the judge-and-jury position of who gets to be remembered and who doesn’t get to be remembered and whose memorial gets carried on?'” Novak said. “We hear the concerns and we share the concern, but we need to make sure that the path forward is one that we’re able to take that addresses all the memorials. That’s going to take some work and discussion to make sure we have a good plan.”
Kathleen Belanger described the School Committee’s vote as a “nightmare” that made her question if she “really [wants] these people on my school board for future generations.”
“I don’t understand why they made a mountain out of a molehill,” she said. “I don’t think it should’ve gone on this long. Here, we’re [celebrating] our 250th birthday for the United States of America and Greg is a part of it, and I want him always to be remembered.”
Since word of the vote spread, Kathleen Belanger has received several messages of support for her and frustration with the vote, both online and in person at the Transfer Station and other spots in town from neighbors, friends and community members, including those who rallied around her in the immediate aftermath of her son’s death.
“It’s not only been hurtful to me, my whole entire family, but it’s been hurtful to my community, and they were there 23 years ago,” Kathleen Belanger said. “I’m very appreciative. My heart is overwhelming with townspeople’s support.”
For Tom Peabody, president of the South Deerfield Polish American Citizens’ Club, the School Committee’s vote led him to reconsider the club’s donations to the school. According to Peabody, the club makes consistent contributions to Frontier’s sports teams and raises money for scholarships for graduates.
Peabody described moving the plaque honoring Gregory Belanger as a “no-brainer.”
While Peabody said the Polish Club “absolutely doesn’t want to hurt the [Frontier] kids” by pulling its future donations, he described a discussion of this possibility as a way for the club to use its “leverage” to urge the School Committee to move the plaque.
The Polish Club’s directors will discuss whether to continue donating to the school at their next meeting on Monday at 7 p.m.
In town, business owners described customers voicing their disapproval of the School Committee’s vote.
Nicole Ciesluk, owner of Ciesluk’s Market on North Main Street, described Gregory Belanger as a brother to many residents in town, adding that the School Committee’s decision “really [hurt] a lot of people’s feelings.”
“[Gregory Belanger’s] family just wants him to be remembered,” said Carrie Fydenkevez, a pharmacist at Deerfield Pharmacy. “I’m not sure why we’re messing with a veteran who gave his life for our country.”
Laura Thiem, who owns Bittersweet Bakery & Cafe, said the committee members are not considering the “bigger picture,” and that their decision could impact future families’ decisions regarding whether to send their kids to Frontier Regional School.
“It’s not just a plaque, it’s a representation of showing the Frontier students that we support them post-grad,” Thiem said. “It keeps the memory alive … and helps the community grieve.”
To the School Committee members, she said, “Put politics aside. Let’s honor this student.”
